Sons of Allen Jacketing – We Don’t Just Wear This Uniform
By Rev. Gaborone P. Lesito, 19th Episcopal District Field Representative
The Sons of Allen is the only auxiliary in the AME Church which shares a common uniform across the Connection. Other auxiliaries merely have colours that can be worn differently by each Episcopal District. The WMS has a common black and white with leopard skin hat uniform worn only in the Districts in Africa.
The 19thEpiscopal District gets hyped up during the Holy Week as final preparations are made to Robe and Jacket its members on either Saturday or Sunday ending the week. Sometimes this event takes place outside of the Easter period.
Sons of Allen, in particular, use the term “Jacketing” as opposed to “Robing.” The matter was discussed at various conference and Episcopal conventions until the general agreement was to adopt the term “Jacketing.”
When one becomes a member of a uniformed auxiliary like the SOA, WMS, YPD, or ACEL, they don’t just go out there to purchase the uniform and then rock up the next day wearing this apparel. Someone, e.g., the pastor, organizational president, or both—during this special service—must put this attire on the candidate.
However, it doesn’t start there. The biggest activity is the blessing of the uniform by the pastor prior to the act of jacketing. This service of jacketing follows a ritual of getting the candidate to sing their favourite hymn as the congregation waits in anticipation for both the selected song and whether the member can actually sing before they join in with excitement and support. Often, this is accompanied by ululations, whistling, and drumbeat as that is Africa. This hymn continues to be sung until the member has been jacketed.
The ritual varies from church to church, including the hymn for the SOA to the explanation on the symbolism of the colours, when to wear the uniform, and a recital of the SOA Pledge and Affirmation. Family members from far and wide come to fill the churches to witness their father, son, uncle, or grandfather taking this very serious step of serving the Lord through the SOA. With this year’s approximately 70 churches jacketing their men, the membership has now gone well beyond 2,500 in the 19thEpiscopal District. To God be the glory.
Is it possible that the whole Connection can adopt this practice? I believe so.
